Further Defining the Role of the Forensic Archaeologist

Summary

As the use of archaeologists in forensic matters grows, it is important to define the role the archaeologist ought to play in such situations. Archaeologists should educate law enforcement personnel as to their utility in investigations. It is important that archaeologists understand their usefulness in criminal matters, and even more importantly, archaeologists should understand their limitations in investigations. There is a need to establish guidelines as to what archaeologists should/should not do while involved in criminal cases. It is also important to attempt to separate the roles of the forensic archaeologist and the forensic anthropologist. It appears that many, including practitioners in both fields, do not know where to limit the roles of each. A discussion of these matters will further the progression of the field of forensic archaeology.

Cite this Record

Further Defining the Role of the Forensic Archaeologist. Eric E. Young. Presented at The 81st Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, Vancouver, British Columbia. 2017 ( tDAR id: 429100)